Segmented gun turret for quick assembly

ABSTRACT

A gun turret according to the invention feature a segmented or sectored configuration, which reduces the weight of the individual components of the turret assembly to facilitate mounting of the turret assembly to the roof of the vehicle by a single person. The gun turret features quick-release clamps or latches by means of which the gun turret can be attached to the roof of a vehicle without tools.

GOVERNMENTAL SUPPORT AND INTEREST

This invention was made in part with U.S. Government support from the U.S. Army under contract number W56HZV-05-9-0002. The U.S. Government has certain rights in the invention.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to rotating support structures, more particularly, the invention relates to gun turrets used to support heavy caliber weapons, e.g., machine guns, which can be assembled and dissembled by only one individual without tools.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Light military or tactical vehicles may be outfitted with relatively heavy-caliber defensive armaments such as machine guns. These armaments are often turret-mounted on the roof of the vehicle for maximum operational versatility. A conventional gun support turret is bolted to the roof of a vehicle. A gun mounting bracket (sometimes referred to as a “batwing”) is, in turn, bolted to the gun support turret, and a machine gun assembly is supported on the gun mounting bracket.

Military vehicles are often transported on cargo aircraft, where space is at a premium. Therefore, in order to reduce the height of the vehicle for transport, protruding items—including, in particular, the roof-mounted gun support turret are typically removed for transport and then remounted to the vehicle after the vehicle has been delivered to the theater of operations. However, the conventional configuration of roof-mounted gun support turrets gives rise to at least two problems. First, bolting the gun support turret to the roof of the vehicle is time-consuming. Second, the gun support turret is quite heavy, e.g., on the order of 200-400 pounds. Therefore, lifting it into place requires either multiple personnel, which consumes man-power that could be better use elsewhere, or a hoist/crane, which represents yet further equipment that needs to be delivered to the theater of operations.

There is therefore a need to provide a gun turret that is more quickly and easily mountable to the roof of a military or tactical vehicle.

There is a further need to provide a gun turret that is mountable to the roof of a military or tactical vehicle by a single person without a hoist.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The needs for the invention set forth above as well as further and other needs and advantages of the present invention are achieved by the embodiments of the invention described herein below.

In a first aspect, the invention provides a gun turret that can be mounted to the roof of a military or tactical vehicle by a single person, without the use of a hoist/crane to do so. The gun turret is divided into a number of segments, each of which is of a more manageable size and weight than an entire gun turret as per the prior art. The gun turret utilizes quick-release clamps to secure the gun turret to the roof of a military or tactical vehicle. One embodiment of the quick-release clamps are cam-action hook-and-latch-plate latch members to secure the gun turret to the roof of a military or tactical vehicle.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a segmented gun turret that can be retrofitted or mounted to the existing roof of a vehicle more quickly than in the case of prior gun turrets.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further needs thereof, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and detailed description, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are perspective views illustrating one embodiment of the gun turret according to the present invention mounted onto the roof of a vehicle;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the gun turret of FIG. 1B;

FIG. 3 is a magnified view of View A of FIG. 2 illustrating one embodiment of a segment connector;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the segment assembly illustrated using the segment connector embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross section view of the present invention of FIG. 2 illustrating one embodiment of the bearing mechanism;

FIG. 6 is a cross section view of the present invention of FIG. 2 illustrating one embodiment of the quick release clamps and the operation thereof (phantom image is disengaged clamp and solid image is engaged clamp);

FIG. 7A is a perspective view of a cam-action hook-and-latch-plate latch member of an alternative embodiment of the present invention to retrofit a conventional vehicle; and

FIG. 7B is a cross section view of socket assembly of another alternative embodiment of the present invention to retrofit a conventional vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

An exemplary embodiment of segmented gun turret 10 according to the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-6. As shown in FIG. 1A, vehicle 46 includes an access port 13 that allows a gun operator to stand through the middle of the turret to operate the gun assembly. Access port 13 is covered by lid or hatch 15 when the gun operator is inside the vehicle and the gun is not being used. The lid or latch 15 act as armament to protect the gunner when lid or hatch 15 is open, as shown in FIG. 1A. As shown in FIG. 1B, inner diameter 11 of the segmented gun turret 10 is larger than the gunner's access port 13 in roof 44. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, segmented gun turret 10 includes a plurality of curved C-shaped frames 12. Curve C-shaped frames 12 are shown as being semi-circular, however any geometric curved shape (e.g. oval or oblong, parabolic or horseshoe-shaped configuration) is acceptable and within the contemplation of the invention. Therefore, though a plurality of segments 12 form a ring when fully assembled as shown when each segment is connected at its ends by another segment, gun turret 10 can be considered completely assembled when the continuous ring is not formed. For example, gun mount 24 cannot make a complete 360° rotation around gun turret 10 when the lid or hatch 15 is open as shown in FIG. 1A. Under such operational conditions, a horseshoe-shaped gun turret would be adequate.

Semi-circular C-shaped frame 12 has a lower section 16, upper section 18, and back section 20 that define a gun mount track or gap 22 (FIG. 5). Gun mount 24 will travel within gap 22 as gun mount 24 traverses the circumference 26 of segmented gun turret 10 (FIG. 2). The height (H1) and depth (D1) of gap 22 is sized to cooperate with gun mount 24 to avoid binding of gun mount 24 within gap 22 (FIG. 4). It is preferable that gap 22 and gun mount 24 have the same circular shape as segmented gun turret 10, meaning that each has the same radial center (C) (FIG. 2). Though the present invention illustrates (4) segments 12, the number of segments is dependent on the size of the assembled gun turret. Any number of segments is acceptable and contemplated within the scope of the invention.

Now turning to FIG. 5, channel 27 can be incorporated into front surface 28 (FIG. 4) of back section 20 to act as a stop such that gun mount 24 does not significantly move radially outward. Gun mount 24 must include member 30 or equivalent that contacts channel surface 32 of channel 27 as gun mount moves radially outward therefore entrapping gun mount 24 without gun turret 10. Gun mount 24 can be inserted or assembled into gap 22 and channel 27 at anytime prior to the assembly of the last segment 12 to complete the circular gun turret 10. The height (H2) and depth (D2) of channel 27 is sized to cooperate with member 30 to avoid binding of member 30 within channel 27. It is preferable that channel 27 and member 30 have the same circular shape as segmented gun turret 10, meaning that each has the same radial center (C) (FIG. 2). In this embodiment, the dimensions of H1 and D1 are not critical dimensions since the design of the roller elements 36 will be able to accommodate any imperfections such as loose fit or large tolerances from nominal dimensions. Alternatively, axial bearings (not shown) can also be used instead of channel 27 and member 30.

Inner surface 37 of upper section 18 and upper surface 39 of lower section 16 of semi-circular C-shaped frames 12 can be a low friction (coefficient of friction less than 0.1) surface 34 (FIG. 2) or include roller elements 36 (FIG. 4) embedded therein or a combination of both to create a substantially friction-less semi-circular path for gun mount 24 to travel thereon. The roller elements can be balls or cylindrical rollers or any other suitable rolling structure. Roller elements can be contained within bearing race 38. Bearing races 38 are set into resets 40 made inner surface 37 of upper section 18 and upper surface 39 of lower section 16 of semi-circular C-shaped frames 12.

Alternatively, roller elements can be embedded in the gun mount (not shown) instead of inner surface 37 of upper section 18 and upper surface 39 of lower section 16 of semi-circular C-shaped frames 12. In this alternative embodiment, inner surface 37 of upper section 18 and upper surface 39 of lower section 16 of semi-circular C-shaped frames 12 can have a low coefficient of friction surface condition to provide a substantially friction-less track for the gun mount to travel on.

Now turning to FIGS. 1, 2, and 6, segmented gun turret 10 includes a plurality of projections 42 extending radially outward from the outer surface 43 of the lower section 16 of semi-circular C-shaped frames 12. Projections 42 are used as anchor points to secure the segmented gun turret 10 to the roof 44 of vehicle 46 to which it is being attached. It is preferred that projections 42 be spaced equi-distance from adjacent tabs in each segment 12. The number of projections 42 is dependent of the clamping force or pressure required to secure segmented gun turret 10, gun mount 24, gun 48, ammunitions, and other miscellaneous combat equipment to vehicle 46.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 6, roof 44 of vehicle 46 is constructed with sockets 50 corresponding in proximity to the positions of projections 42. Sockets 50 are formed with undercuts 52, thereby providing shoulder surfaces 54. Quick-release cam-action pressure clamps 56 have a plurality of pivotally connected sections where lower end 58 fits down into socket 50, surface 59 disposes roof 44 between surface 59 and projection 42, and surface 59 mates with shoulder surfaces 54 when engaged to secure gun turret 10 to vehicle 46. The phantom image illustrates quick-release cam-action clamps 56 in disengaged position, whereas the solid image of quick-release cam-action clamps 56 illustrates the engaged position. By moving the lever 60 outward and down, as illustrated in FIG. 6, lower end 58 is drawn up toward the upper end 62 pivoting about axes 55A and 55B, thereby clamping projection 42, and hence the segmented gun turret 10, to the roof 44 of vehicle 46. The present invention is not to be limited to the quick-release clamps and vehicle roof configuration described herein. Any quick-release clamp and/or vehicle roof configuration are within the contemplation of the present invention.

Now turning to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, semi-circular frames 12 interlock with each other at their ends 84 to form an assembled gun turret 10. One embodiment of the interlocking mechanism 78 is a dovetail configuration with a male connector 80 and a cooperating female receiver 82. FIG. 2 shows an assembled gun turret 10 with four interlocking mechanisms 78 (View A). FIG. 3 shows in magnified view of the View A of FIG. 2. FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the assembly of two semi-circular frames 12. The present invention is not to be limited to the interlocking mechanism described herein. Any interlocking mechanism is within the contemplation of the present invention.

A retrofit embodiment utilizes cam-action hook-and-latch-plate latch members—e.g., De-Sta-Co Model 330 latch members, which are illustrated in FIG. 7, to secure gun turret 110 to roof 144 of a conventional military or tactical vehicle. In this embodiment, roof 144 of the vehicle does not have sockets. Rather, cam-action hook units 164 are attached by conventional means (e.g., bolts, screws, weld, braze, solder, and/or adhesive) to quick-connect projection 142 of gun turret 110, and cooperatively configured latch plate units 166 are attached by conventional means (described above) to the roof 144 of the vehicle in corresponding locations (or vice-versa). Lever 168 is moved about pivot axis 170 in the direction of arrow A. Hook member 172 is extended outwardly in the direction of arrow B, such that the hook portion 174 of hook member 172 is able to be hooked around cross member 176 of latch plate unit 166. Lever 168 is then moved back down into the original position shown in FIG. 7, and camming operation of the unit secures/clamps the gun turret 110 to roof 144 of the vehicle.

Yet another alternative embodiment of a retrofit kit is illustrated in FIG. 7B. Clamping device 56 and roof socket 50 are the same as described in FIG. 6 and use the same reference numbers to identified key features. However, roof socket 50 is integrated into a removable element 246 instead of being integral to roof 44 as previous disclosed. Removable element 246 can be a block made of suitable material and be of suitable dimensions to sustain operational and clamp loads. Removable element 246 can be attached to roof 244 by any conventional joining means such as bolts, screws, adhesive, weld, solder, or brazing. Segmented gun turret 210 is substantially the same as segmented gun turret 10 as described above with the addition of extended base 246 to compensate for height (H3) of removable element 246. The addition of extended base 246 provides for gun turret 210 to seat level on roof 244, thereby distributing the load of segmented gun turret 210 over a wider area and reducing stresses in projections 42.

It will now be apparent to those skilled in the art that other embodiments, improvements, details, and uses can be made consistent with the letter and spirit of the foregoing disclosure and within the scope of this patent, which is limited only by the following claims, construed in accordance with the patent law, including the doctrine of equivalents. 

1. A gun turret comprising: a plurality of segments being releasably interlockable with adjacent segments, each of said plurality of segments having two ends and a gun mount track defined by a upper section, a lower section, and a back section, each of said ends includes an interlocking mechanism; and a clamping device operably attached to at least one segment of said plurality of segments, said clamping device being adapted to engage a roof of a vehicle, wherein the gun turret is secured to the roof of the vehicle when said clamping device engages the roof of the vehicle.
 2. The gun turret according to claim 1 comprising a plurality of clamping devices, each of said clamping devices attached proximate one end to a different one of said plurality of segments and proximate another end adapted to engage the roof of the vehicle.
 3. The gun turret according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said segments is semi-circular.
 4. The gun turret according to claim 1 further comprising at least one projection disposed radially outward along an outer surface of at least one of said segments.
 5. The gun turret according to claim 4 wherein said clamping device is mounted on said at least one projection.
 6. The gun turret according to claim 5 wherein said clamping device comprises a plurality of pivotally connected sections, wherein one section of said sections being adapted to dispose the roof of the vehicle between said one section and said at least one projection.
 7. The gun turret according to claim 1 wherein said interlocking mechanism comprises a male connector at one end of said two ends and a female receiver at the other end of said two ends.
 8. The gun turret according to claim 7 wherein said male connector is a dovetail configuration and said female receiver is a dovetail configuration complimentary with said male connector dovetail configuration.
 9. The gun turret according to claim 1 wherein said gun mount track includes low friction surfaces.
 10. The gun turret according to claim 1 wherein said gun mount track includes roller elements.
 11. The gun turret according to claim 9 wherein said roller elements are ball bearings.
 12. The gun turret according to claim 9 wherein said roller elements are disposed on opposing surfaces of said upper and lower sections of said segments.
 13. The gun turret according to claim 1 wherein said back section further comprises a circumferential channel adapted to entrap a gun mount whereby the gun mount is impeded from substantial outward radial movement.
 14. The gun turret according to claim 1 wherein said plurality of segments form a ring when said segments interlock.
 15. A removable gun turret kit comprising: a plurality of segments being releasably interlockable with adjacent segments, each said segment having two ends and a gun mount track defined by a upper section, a lower section, and a back section, each said end includes an interlocking mechanism; a clamping device attached to each said segment, and an anchor device attachable to a roof of a vehicle, said anchor device adapted to engage said clamping device, wherein the gun turret is secured to the roof of the vehicle when said segments are interlocked with each other and said clamping device engages said anchor device.
 16. The removable gun turret kit according to claim 15 wherein: said clamping device includes a hook; and said anchor device includes a cross member to engage said hook.
 17. The removable gun turret kit according to claim 16 wherein: said clamping device comprises a plurality of pivotally connected sections, wherein one section of said sections being adapted to dispose the roof of the vehicle between said one section and said at least one projection; and said anchor device includes a socket therein adapted to receive said clamping device.
 18. A tactical vehicle with a removable gun turret and a roof, the improvement comprising: a gun turret having a plurality of segments being releasably interlockable with adjacent segments, each said segment having two ends and a gun mount track defined by a upper section, a lower section, and a back section, each said end includes an interlocking mechanism; a clamping device attached to at least one segment of said plurality of segments; and a plurality of anchor devices for attachment to the roof, said plurality of anchor devices adapted to receive said clamping device, wherein the gun turret is secured to the roof of the vehicle when said clamping device engages the anchor devices which are attached to the roof.
 19. The improvement according to claim 18 comprising a plurality of clamping devices, each of said clamping devices attached proximate one end to a different one of said plurality of segments and proximate another end adapted to engage a different one of said anchor devices, respectively.
 20. The improvement according to claim 18 wherein: said clamping device includes a hook; and at one of said anchor devices includes a cross member to engage said hook.
 21. The improvement according to claim 18 wherein: said clamping device comprises a plurality of pivotally connected sections, wherein one section of said sections adapted to dispose the roof of the vehicle between said one section and said at least one projection; and at least one of said anchor devices includes a socket therein adapted to receive said clamping device.
 22. A gun turret comprising: a plurality of segments being releasably interlockable with adjacent segments, each of said plurality of segments having two ends and a gun mount track defined by a upper section, a lower section, and a back section, each of said ends includes an interlocking mechanism; said plurality of segments form a ring when said segments interlock; at least one projection disposed radially outward along an outer surface of at least one of said segments at least one anchor device attachable to a roof of a vehicle; a plurality of clamping devices, each of said clamping devices attached proximate one end to a different one of said plurality of segments and proximate another end adapted to engage said at least one anchor device; and at least one of said clamping devices comprises a plurality of pivotally connected sections, wherein one section of said sections adapted to dispose the roof of the vehicle between said one section and said at least one projection; wherein the gun turret is secured to the roof of the vehicle when said clamping device engages the anchor device when said anchor device is attached to the roof of the vehicle. 